Events

2017 Chronology of Programs and Activities

January 11: Top Risks 2017Eurasia Group’s President Ian Bremmer presented a lecture on his organization’s report “Top Risks 2017.” The “Top Risks” report is prepared every year for global investors. It highlights challenging political and geopolitical stress points for the year ahead.

January 12: The Year Ahead: Politics and Policies in Washington The Council hosted a lecture by political analyst Dr. Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute. He focused his remarks on the results of the 2016 national elections and the Washington policy agenda ahead.

January 24: Global Trends: The Paradox of ProgressThe Chairman of the U.S. government’s National Intelligence Council (NIC) in the Obama Administration Dr. Gregory Treverton presented a lecture on the NIC’s most recent Global Trends Report. The report discusses increasing global volatility and significant political, economic, and social adjustments characterizing the strategic landscape.

February 22: Ambassadors Advisory Board MeetingThe Chairman of the Council’s Ambassadors Advisory Board His Excellency Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States, hosted a Luncheon Meeting at the Embassy of Singapore. Members of the Ambassadors Advisory Board came together with members of the Council’s Board of Directors to review programs and discuss plans for 2017.

March 8: Cybersecurity: Implications and Challenges for Governments and the Private SectorThe Council brought together foreign diplomats and representatives of the private sector and NGO communities to hear a presentation by Dr. James Lewis, Senior Vice President and Program Director of the Strategic Technologies Program at CSIS. Dr. Lewis is an internationally recognized expert on cybersecurity and has extensive experience in the U.S. government and internationally.

April 7: International Trade Policy: Perspectives on the Agenda AheadFormer Undersecretary of Commerce and National Foreign Trade Council President William Reinsch addressed the Council on the 2017 international trade agenda, including NAFTA, import issues, and U.S. withdrawal from the TPP.

May 5: Baltimore: The Historic and Contemporary CityThe Council sponsored an educational excursion for international diplomats to visit Baltimore, Maryland. Over 40 diplomats participated in a program that included visits to the city’s historic sites and programs being undertaken to help the city meet the challenges of modern urban America.

June 15: Understanding President Trump’s WashingtonAs President Trump approached the half-year mark in his term of office, two of Washington’s leading political strategists and analysts, Bruce P. Mehlman and David Castagnetti, presented a discussion of the new Administration’s agenda, appointments and future challenges.

July 27: The Washington Nationals vs. The Milwaukee BrewersThe Council took a break from politics and foreign policy to host international diplomats for a lecture on baseball (“America’s National Pastime”) and a Major-League game at Washington’s Nationals Park.

August: Lawrence S. Eagleburger Fellowship for American Foreign Service OfficersThe Council helped the U.S. State Department place four Foreign Service Officers in educational training assignments. The Lawrence S. Eagleburger Fellowship gives American Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) first-hand experience in a global business environment. Since 1986, the Executive Council has placed over 80 FSOs in one-year assignments with major U.S. corporations. 2017-2018 assignments were: Jason Jeffreys, Entertainment Software Association; Andrew Moore, Google X; David Myers, Medtronic, Inc.; Andrew Pacelli, The Boeing Company.

September 12: The Trump Administration’s Economic Policy Agenda: A Perspective from the Business CommunityPresident and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers Mr. Jay Timmons discussed the Administration’s economic policy agenda and how it might affect the environment for business in the U.S.

October 30: The News Media: Changes, Challenges and the Implications for World AffairsSpeakers on the topic were The Honorable Richard Boucher, former U.S. Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and State Department Spokesman; Mr. Arshad Mohammed, a Diplomatic Correspondent with Reuters; and Mr. Michael Mosettig, an Adjunct Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and former Senior Producer for Foreign Affairs and Defense at the PBS NewsHour.

November 7: Friedrich Naumann Foundation: Promoting ToleranceThe Council was pleased to support the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) and invite foreign diplomats to a dinner introducing the study program ‘Promoting Tolerance’, which has been organized annually by the American Jewish Committee and the FNF for over 20 years. It focuses on young leaders from Central and Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The program aims to promote a climate of tolerance, pluralism, and respect, and the exchange of best practice experiences of multicultural societies.

2018 Chronology of Programs and Activities

January 9: Politics, Public Policy, and World Affairs: Perspectives on the Current SituationThe Honorable Jim Webb, former United States Senator, Assistant Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the U.S. Navy, presented a lecture on current global developments and public policy challenges.

January 18: Promoting Civil DiplomacyA 22-person Chinese delegation organized by The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, composed of business and government representatives, met with representatives of the Council to discuss cooperation and civil diplomacy. The delegation was on a tour of the United States to facilitate academic, business and cultural discussions.

February 21: International Trade Policy: Perspectives on the Agenda AheadFormer Undersecretary of Commerce and National Foreign Trade Council President William Reinsch addressed the Council on the 2018 international trade agenda.

March 6: Why 2018 Will Make 2017 Seem TameTwo of Washington's leading political strategists and analysts, Bruce P. Mehlman and David Castagnetti, made a presentation on U.S. electoral politics in the year ahead.